This Blog's purpose is to offer information about congregations voting to leave the ELCA. Pastor Barnhart's other Blog offers information about current news events relating to the Church and the nation. It may be found here: http://livinginthetimes.blogspot.com/

Monday, September 27, 2010

Oh, the tales told by those who want to deceive or mislead. Two recent articles from statements made by two synod bishops give great cause for pause.

Bishop Larry Wohlrabe of the ELCA Northwestern Minnesota Synod was quoted in an article by Jim Spencer of the Minneapolis Star Tribune as rejoicing because the estimated 1000 churches that were to have left the ELCA by now had not materialized. The article stated that only 199 churches have voted to leave, and in Minnesota only 24 churches have left.

However, according to the ELCA’s own statistics as of September 1, 226 churches had voted to leave. In Minnesota, 30 congregations have voted out thus far with another 12 waitingto take their second vote. Counting the 30 congregation and assuming these 12 congregations waiting to vote are successful, the combined membership losses for the Minnesota Synod alone will be 42,948. At least six additional congregations in Minnesota will be voting to leave the ELCA before the end of the year.

In spite of the Bishop's rejoicing, I still estimate that 1000 churches will leave the ELCA by the end 0f 2011. ELCA churches will continue to vote out in the coming months and years because the decision to ordain practicing homosexuals was only the first installment. Additional unacceptable decisions by the ELCA will be coming.

Bishop Michael Rinehart of the ELCA’s Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod inferred the new start-up Lutheran churches are “cults,” in an article published September 25, 2010.“Schismatic behavior, that is division, is the disease of the Lutheran movement, said Rinehart. “Sadly, it is part of our DNA.”“If someone doesn’t like this or that decision, they form their own church. The line between a small denomination and cult is becoming too thin for my taste.”

Based on membership statistics published in the ELCA's 2010 Year Book, the baptized membership loss for the ELCA congregations on the following list is: 196,465. This number does not include those ELCA members who left to begin new congregations or those who simply have left their various congregations.

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Praise the Lord! In times like these, we have a Savior, Jesus Christ the Lord! He alone offers hope and salvation to this troubled world.

The unmistakable signs of Jesus’ imminent return are all about us. The Lord’s words spoken to His disciples are appropriate for every believer today: “Blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. For many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear and did not hear it” (Matthew 13:16-17).

Global unrest and the present economic crisis are producing fear in the hearts of many. Fear is causing the world to move closer to a global government and a global monetary system. Even now, nations are longing for a leader who will solve the world’s economic woes and bring peace to the earth. What a time to proclaim the angelic message— “Fear not! For unto you has been born a Savior which is Christ the Lord.”

Far too many Christians today are focusing on the problem rather than on the solution, forgetting whose we are, as well as the true source of our hope. Paul reminds us, “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Phil. 3:20). The Greek word for citizenship in this verse is “polituma,” from which we get our word politics. Truly, the believer’s politics are in heaven. No matter who may be in charge of human governments, let us always remember the Lord of heaven and earth will have the last word.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

In an open letter to those withdrawing from the ELCA, Bishop Herbert Chilstrom, first bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), asked three questions:

1. What is it about sex that pushed you over the edge?2. Why are you organizing new churches?3. What will you say to your sons and daughters, sisters and brothers and others in your churches when they tell you they are homosexual?

Even though Bishop Chilstrom’s questions are uncharacteristically sarcastic in tone and obviously intended to ridicule those who do not agree with him, I will attempt to answer his questions with the hope of generating more light than heat on an issue that has already caused immeasurable heartache for so many members and former members of the ELCA.

“WHAT IS IT ABOUT SEX THAT PUSHED YOU OVER THE EDGE?”Bishop Chilstrom, it is not “sex” that has caused over 800,000 members and at least 1000 congregations to leave the ELCA since its establishment in 1988; it is the ELCA’s ongoing denial of the Bible as the inspired Word of God and its blatant attack on the teachings of Scripture. Those who have left and those who are still in the process of leaving the ELCA, including some of your own most respected theologians and former bishops, have explained this repeatedly, but you and ELCA leaders apparently are not listening. Instead, you have chosen to ridicule and insult them by suggesting some warped attitude about “sex” has prompted their leaving.

The people of the ELCA were not the ones who raised the issue of promoting homosexuality as being virtuous, nor did they raise the issue of ordaining practicing homosexuals as pastors. You, Bishop Chilstrom, and the ELCA leadership were responsible for relentlessly driving this agenda in the ELCA over the past 22 years. It was you and liberal ELCA leaders who initiated studies, costing millions of benevolence dollars, in order to reeducate ELCA members that homosexuality should be fully accepted by the church, in total contradiction to the teachings of Scripture.

Because the Bible clearly identifies homosexuality as sin and an abomination before God, (Leviticus 18:22; Romans 1:26-28; Corinthians 6:9-11; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8; Jude 1:7), ELCA leaders gathered theologians and teachers to write books, papers and articles that would “prove” numerous biblical passages that identify homosexual acts as sin do not really mean what the text declares. This is clearly reminiscent of the first false teacher, Satan, who used the same tactic with Eve when he asked her: “Did God really say? (Genesis 3:1). Paul described such deceitful teachers when he wrote:

“But the Spirit explicitly says that in the later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons…” (1 Timothy 4:1).“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires, and will turn from the truth and will turn aside to myths” (2 Timothy 4:3-4).

Bishop, you and the ELCA leadership permitted the pro-homosexual lobby to bring their political agenda before the Churchwide Assembly year after year, even though it was repeatedly rejected. Your persistence paid off when the 2009 Churchwide Assembly approved a resolution that officially allows practicing homosexuals to serve as pastors. The fact is—the ELCA leadership had permitted practicing homosexuals to serve in the ELCA for years with little or no discipline being imposed on them or the congregations they served.

The resolution to sanction the ordination of practicing homosexuals was passed at the 2009 Churchwide Assembly only because ELCA Church Council drafted and backed a provision that permitted its passage by a simple majority vote instead of the customary two-thirds plurality. Had the people in the pews of the ELCA been given the opportunity to vote on ordaining practicing homosexuals as pastors, the measure would not have passed. No, Bishop Chilstrom, the issue that has “pushed” literally hundreds of thousands of former ELCA members “over the edge,” to use your words, is not sex; the issue was, is, and continues to remain the ELCA’s low view and arrogant rejection of the Scriptures.

“WHY ARE YOU ORGANIZING NEW CHURCHES?”In answer to your second question, Bishop Chilstrom, former ELCA members have organized new church bodies and joined existing Bible-believing Lutheran churches in order to preserve our rich heritage as Lutherans. Those who have withdrawn from the ELCA have done so with heavy hearts and agonizing grief. The pain of leaving a congregation, friends and a church body in which one has worshipped, loved and labored for so many years is beyond describing. But the Scripture’s call to “obey God rather than man” supersedes loyalty to a congregation or a denomination. Once we recognized the ELCA had been hijacked by those who substitute the teachings of Scripture for socially accepted values and man-made opinions, there was no other choice. God’s Word and the Lutheran Confessions instruct us to pass on to our posterity the pure Word of God and doctrines that agree with the Scriptures.

The ELCA’s low view of Scripture has not only brought about the endorsement of homosexual perversions, it has opened the door to goddess worship and a host of other false doctrines and practices. For example, the liturgy used in the Reception Service in San Francisco last August to welcome practicing homosexual pastors into the ELCA contained pagan prayers and goddess worship. Several ELCA bishops participated in the service.

You may be right, Bishop Chilstrom, that the Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ (LCMC) and the North America Lutheran Church (NALC) were established in some measure because other existing Lutheran bodies do not ordain women. The ordination of women marks a clear distinction between the LCMC, the NALC and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, the Wisconsin Evangelical Synod, the Association of Free Lutheran Congregations, the American Association of Lutheran Churches and other smaller Lutheran bodies. Even so, the LCMC and the NALC are more in agreement with established conservative Lutheran bodies than they are with the ELCA which has deliberately chosen to abandon biblical and confessional Lutheranism. Have you ever stopped to consider why it is that the ELCA has no official fellowship with any of these Lutheran bodies? Perhaps it is the ELCA’s hubris that you are altogether right, while all other Lutherans are wrong. Lutheranism does not begin and end with the ELCA.

You cannot imagine the freedom those who left the ELCA have found in any and all of these Lutheran bodies and newly established congregations. It is such a blessing not to have to spend your life fighting your own church over the authority of Scripture and correct doctrine, especially in times like these, when our nation needs churches that will stand on the solid foundation of God’s truth.

Perhaps, Bishop, there are too many Lutheran bodies in the United States today, as your question implies, but as long as the ELCA persists in departing from Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions, there can never be too many Lutheran churches to lift high the banner of the truth contained in God’s Word.

WHAT WILL YOU SAY TO YOUR SONS, DAUGHTERS, SISTERS, BROTHERS AND OTHERS WHEN THEY TELL YOU THEY ARE HOMOSEXUAL?Your question implies only you and those who agree with you have anything meaningful to say to homosexuals, while those who disagree with you do not. But let me assure you when it comes to offering help and hope to homosexuals, we have more to offer them than you and your liberal supporters.

Unlike you, we do not tell them God approves their behavior. We continue to compassionately tell our sons, daughters, sisters and brothers— We love you with all of our hearts and nothing will change that, but we can not and will not accept the lifestyle you have chosen.

To those within our churches who tell us they are homosexuals, we say—You are welcome in our congregations. But our welcome does not mean we condone your sinful behavior, nor does it mean we will permit you to serve as a pastors or as leaders in our churches. We love you enough to tell you homosexual practices are contrary to the Word of God. If you continue to embrace homosexuality or other deviant behaviors, you will bring endless grief into your life and shut yourself off from God’s grace. We love you enough to remind you that your chosen lifestyle could cause you to acquire AIDS and shorten your life. The life expectancy of a homosexual man is age 42, while the life expectancy of a heterosexual man is 75.

To all homosexuals, we say—We love you enough to tell you there is a Savior who is able to redeem, forgive and totally transform your life, if you turn to Him in faith and repentance. Don’t listen to those who tell you that you can’t change or be changed. Come to the Savior and be made whole.

YOU ARE RELIEVED TO SEE US GOFinally Bishop, you state: “I am both sad and relieved that you are leaving. Sad, because this was not what we hoped for when the ELCA was formed 22 years ago. We believed we could be a church where we held to the essentials and allowed for differences on non-essentials. But I am also relieved. Now those of us who remain in the ELCA can get on with our primary mission of telling everyone — ‘Jesus loves you. You are welcome in this church.’”

Let me assure you Bishop, denying the teachings of the Bible and lifting up homosexuality as a virtue are not non-essentials. The Bible is clear, those who do such things “will not inherit the Kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11). Yes, Bishop, we know these verses include other sinners. But thankfully, all who come to Christ by faith and repent of their sins will be washed clean in the blood of the Lamb. This truth is the very heart and soul of the gospel of salvation.

You say you are sadden but relieved to see us go, so the ELCA can get on with its primary mission—to tell everyone “Jesus loves you. You are welcome in this church.” But that is not the mission of the Church. According to the Bible the mission of the church is to teach “all things Christ has commanded (Matthew 28:20). Telling homosexuals or any other sinner “Jesus loves you,” while failing to proclaim their need of faith and repentance is to love them into hell, which is no love at all.

Our prayer Bishop Chilstrom, is that our leaving may cause you and others in the ELCA to reexamine the Scriptures and return to the pure teaching of God’s Word.

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

A service of reconciliation (Reception) for Pastors Anita Hill, Ruth Frost and Phyllis Zillhart will be held Saturday, September 18, 2:00 p.m. at Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, St. Paul, Mn.

All three were previously ordained in a service conducted by Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries, not recognized by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. This service is meant to officially recognize their ordination and welcome them into the ELCA. A service of reconciliation that welcomed six homosexual pastors, held a few weeks ago in San Francisco, featured pagan prayers. One can only wonder what will be included in this service.

Ruth Frost and Phyllis Zillhart are partnered homosexuals. Anita Hill is partnered with Janelle Bussert, a teacher in the Religion Department of Augsburg College (ELCA), Minneapolis.

Peter Rogness, Bishop, St. Paul Area Synod of the ELCA will preside at the service.

Barbara Lundblad, a member of the ELCA clergy roster and teacher at Union Theological Seminary, New York, will preach. Lundblad has long promoted both the feminist and homosexual agenda in the ELCA. At the 1993 Re-imagining Conference, Barbara Lundblad said she "did not need Jesus as long as she had Sophia."

According to the announcement there will be a "party after the service. "Celebration Dinner/Dance at the St. Paul Hotel begins with conversation and cocktails at 6 p.m. Dinner served 7 p.m. with brief program followed by dancing.

Monday, September 13, 2010

In every age circumstances and trials cause a stirring in the human heart for a word from the Lord. No other word will do. Surely ours is such a time when a word from the Lord is greatly needed. Take heart friend, God has an encouraging Word for us today.

“Seek the Lord while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near…For asthe rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there withoutwatering the earth and making it bear and sprout, and furnishing seed to thesower and bread to the eater; so will my Word be which goes forth from My mouth;

it will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without

succeeding in the matter for which I sent it” (Isa. 55:6, 11).

GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY:“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called

in one body; and be thankful.Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching andadmonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing

with thankfulness in your hearts to God.Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the Name of the Lord Jesus,

Saturday, September 11, 2010

The first departure wave from the ELCA took place immediately prior to the ELCA’s organization in 1988 and lasted through July 2009. According to the ELCA’s own statistics, 737 congregations were lost to the ELCA between 1988 and 2008. The loss of membership during that same period was 654,161. The second departure wave from the ELCA began in August 2009, following the Churchwide Assembly’s vote to permit practicing homosexuals to be placed on its clergy roster. Since that fateful decision in August 2009, an estimated 400 congregations have successfully taken their first and/or second votes to leave. These congregations that have left or are in the process of leaving represent a net loss of over 240,000 members. This figure does not include the thousands of ELCA members who have left to start new Lutheran mission congregations, nor does it include the thousands who withdrew on their own as a direct result of the 2009 decision. The full extent of ELCA’s loss may not be known for years, but it is significant.There are established ELCA congregations that may not survive because so many members have chosen to leave the denomination. Even now, congregations are being disbanded and their property sold. Some congregations where the vote to leave failed, often by the slimmest margin, have reported a 25-35 percent drop in both attendance and giving. ELCA members and congregations need to know the Lutheran Church is alive and well outside the ELCA, where the Word of God is both believed and honored. Those choosing to leave the ELCA have many choices. Congregations and members who are waiting for the ELCA to change its policy of accepting practicing homosexual clergy should realize it is not going to happen. ELCA members may either remain and give financial and tacit approval of their church’s unbiblical theology and practices, or they can follow the instructions of Scripture and unite with a church body that rightly teaches and upholds the Word of God. The choice has never been as clear! “Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?” (2 Cor. 6:14).

As of September 2, the Office of the Secretary has been advised that congregations have taken 529 first votes to terminate their relationship with the ELCA (some congregations have taken more than one first vote). Of these 529 first votes, 362 passed and 167 failed. Synods also have informed the Office of the Secretary that congregations have taken 236 second votes, 222 of which passed and 14 failed.

According to this count, we are missing 50 congregations from the list below of congregations that have successfully passed their first and/or second votes. If you are aware of congregations not on our list, please inform us. wordabide@aol.com Thank you.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

BURNING THE QURAN BETRAYS THE TEACHINGS OF CHRIST AND THE PRINCIPLES OF FREEDOM

The Dove World Outreach Center of Gainesville, Florida, a non-denomination church, plans to burn the Qu’ran on September 11. They want churches and Christians across the country and around the world to join them in this protest of “the evils of Islam.” “Islam and Sharia law was responsible for 9/11," Pastor Terry Jones said. “We will burn Qurans because we think it's time for Christians, for churches, for politicians to stand up and say no; Islam and Sharia law is not welcome in the US,” the pastor added.

General David Petraeus has warned such an action could place our troops in harm’s way.Various national and religious leaders have called on The Dove World Outreach Center to halt their plans to burn the Qu’ran.

Speaking on behalf of Abiding Word Ministries I am unalterably opposed to those who to stir up such hatred against Muslims, or claim they are doing so in the name of Christianity. This is just plain wrong.

If an Islamic group set out to publicly burn Bibles somewhere in this country as an incitement against Christianity, protests would rise from Christians throughout the land, and rightfully so. I rise to condemn the act of burning the Qu’ran as being contrary to the principles of Scripture and the principles of freedom. Anyone who chooses to burn Qu’rans as a means of protest against Islam or Sharia should not assume they are doing so in the Name of Christ or with the sanction or approval of the freedom-loving citizens of America.

What a contradiction for a church which bears as part of its name “World Outreach” to engage in such a despicable act. Muslims need the Lord! They need a demonstration of Christ’s Love. Instead of burning Qu’rans, the members of this church and all Christians should be witnessing the Gospel of Christ to their Muslim neighbors.

About Me

David Barnhart received a Bachelor’s degree in education from Clarion State University, Clarion, Pa., and a Masters of Divinity degree from the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, Columbia, SC. Ordained by the Lutheran Church in America in 1964, he pastored churches in that denomination for 20 years. In 1984, Pastor Barnhart withdrew from the Lutheran Church in America and united with the Association of Free Lutheran Congregations (AFLC). He establish Abiding Word Ministries (AWM) in that same year. Abiding Word Ministries, now in its 27th year, exists to promote revival and reformation throughout the Church. Pastor Barnhart publishes a newsletter called The Vine and Branches which is mailed to approximately 7500 homes throughout the United States and Canada. AWM counsels pastors, congregations and laity who desire to take their stand against false teachings and unbiblical practices within their church bodies.